My Daily Uniform with Catherine Sheppard

Catherine and I first met each other about a year ago over breakfast (and mimosas, obviously) at Bottega Louie.  We both walked in wearing almost identical matching yellow jackets and that's when I knew our friendship was meant to be!  While we are both stylists and we both also run lifestyle websites, our personal style is actually really different which I love!  It's fun to be able to bounce ideas off of another person who is coming at a situation from a totally different point of view.  I'm sure you are already familiar with her great site, designed by this gal, but I thought today it would be fun to have her share some of her insights  on personal style since she has created an entire career around it as a fashion stylist!  Take it away, Catherine!

It's always hard to put it into words, but I would say my style is modern edgy glamorous. Anything black, leather, pointy, or sparkly is a necessity in my book, but I do like to be discerning in my choices, and am constantly looking for the next timeless investment piece.

 

My style has done a complete 360 over the years. Let's not even talk about my middle school/high school years because that would force me to have to tell you about the 7th grade boxer shorts/Mary Engelbreit t-shirt/Birkenstock outfits that I wore daily. In my early twenties I was living in New York and surrounded by amazing fashion but I was still dabbling in earthier, girlier looks and didn't quite have a handle on it. I eventually came to a groundbreaking realization that the style that honors me most is the quintessential New York look (tailored, dark, structured, and sharp) and there is no going back now. Moving to LA was a bit of a challenge in terms of fashion because at first I wasn't comfortable in the laid back west coast style. My style still hasn't changed much in the last four years, but I just have to find ways to adapt my sleeker pieces to the casual, relaxed LA lifestyle.

Absolutely! Since I'm constantly shopping for clients and shoots, I am always getting inspired by out-of-the-box looks that I might not normally have caught my eye. And my style influences my work in that I love to work with clients who share the same fashion preferences as me. It makes for all sorts of cross-inspiration! I also enjoy getting to share my tried and true pieces that I have found work for everyone with my clients.

 

Lately I have been realizing that I've gone a little crazy with the edgy staple pieces, and I need to bring in a few more classic feminine things, such as a pair of pointy toed Manolo's or some equestrian boots.

These days you can find me lurking at Barney's, Nordstrom, and scouring Shopbop and Net-a-Porter, but for lingerie it's Faire Frou Frou all the way.

The Helmut Lang blazer I'm wearing in this post! I had been coveting it for a year and was so excited they brought it back for another season. It's the perfect fall/winter jacket for LA and the right blend of tailored and edgy.

 

Hmm let me think about this... YES! I'm biased given my career of choice, but I truly feel that personal style is everything. And I'm not talking about following trends. Your style is the first and often only thing people learn about you when they pass you on the street. It's important to use your style to show the world who you are and who you want to be. Being true to yourself with what you wear is the ultimate confidence booster.

 

Only wear what makes you light up and get rid of everything in your closet that doesn't fall into that category. I promise you won't miss it!